SOME BIRD NOTES 257 



CURLEW-SANDPIPER AND GODWIT 



In the autumn of 1898 I saw a poor little curlew-sand- 

 piper running about on the mudflats, one of its wings having 

 been badly damaged by a gunshot. After a rather exciting 

 chase over the mudflats I secured the bird, bound up its 

 wing, and placed it in an empty rabbit hutch. Next morn- 

 ing I found it extremely hungry, and quite ready to consume 

 a number of wood-lice (Onisicus) and small worms I hunted 

 up for it. In less than a week it readily picked food from 

 my fingers, and the wing had fairly well healed. A bar- 

 tailed godwit, quite uninjured, was brought me about the 

 same time, and the two were removed to more commodious 

 premises, where they lived most amicably for some time. 

 The godwit was fond of a big lobworm, and it was enter- 

 taining to watch it set its foot upon a worm too big to 

 swallow whole, break it in halves by a dexterous wrench of 

 its bill, and bolt one half forthwith. The bird was exceed- 

 ingly dexterous with its foot, using it in a peculiarly hand- 

 like manner, both in keeping the worm from moving out of 

 reach and in assisting the writhing creature down into its 

 gullet. I never before saw a wader make such a use of its 

 foot. Worms, small pieces of suet pudding, wood-lice, and 

 cockles were readily eaten, as well as shrimps and other 

 crustaceans. 



The curlew-sandpiper proved very adept at catching flies, 

 and would stand on one leg, apparently dozing, but all the 

 while alert to see or hear the passing of an insect. Did a 

 fly alight within eighteen inches of it, it stood very little 

 chance of escape from the dexterous creature, and those 

 coming within six inches were snapped up without more ado 

 than a deft turn of the neck, and maybe the dropping of the 

 resting leg. I thought this partiality to insects an interesting 

 fact. The godwit drew a line at flies. 



AN EARLY MIGRATION 



A most remarkable movement of birds, waders in par- 

 ticular, took place during the last week of August, 1905. 



